The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was an instant worldwide bestseller and sparked no end of controversy. The story centers around noted symbologist Robert Langdon, whose colleague's murder launches him on an unexpected quest to seek the holy grail, which may not be at all what the legends claim.
The story was a bestseller for a reason- it's amazingly well told, and moves at breakneck speed. Brown has a knack for maintaining suspense throughout a 500 page novel (he also pulls it off in Angels and Demons and The Lost Symbol). This novel is full of multi-layered codes (which are plentiful and brilliant), word origins, and Church/Templar history- very good stuff. The prime locales are Paris and London, and anyone fortunate enough to have toured those cities can enjoy the novel on another level.
I don't want to reveal too much, but the controversy concerning the book revolves around a claim about Christ. The Church, obviously, has spoken out against it, and several authors have penned novel-length responses to The Da Vinci Code, debunking some of its claims. Here is my amateur take on the issue: this book is a work of fiction. There are many historical elements, yes, but that does not mean the work in its entirety is to be taken as truth. Enjoy the story for what it is, and if you question the accuracy of a statement, research it.
The Da Vinci Code catapulted Dan Brown to superstar status, and rightfully so. Still, I feel another of his works- Angels and Demons- is actually better. I believe this opinion is shared by many, and the story is a prequel to The Da Vinci Code, so if this sort of thing is interesting to you, read Angels and Demons first.
Rating: A+
No comments:
Post a Comment